Adjustable three-knife paper cutier and trimmer



1965 M. H. ABLON 3,198,051

ADJUSTABLE THREEKNIFE PAPER CUTTER AND TRIMMER Filed Aug. 28, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 I /6 42 Hi "I 37 5/ INVENTOR Meyer H. Ablon 6 5 F 19. 6

w BY w K W 0 ATTORNEY 1965 M. H. ABLON 3,198,051

ADJUSTABLE THREE-KNIFE PAPER CUTTER AND TRIMMER Filed Aug. 28, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Meyer H. Ablon MKM ATTORNEY M. H. ABLON 3,198,051

ADJUSTABLE THREE-KNIFE PAPER CUTTER AND TRIMMER Aug. 3, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 INVENTOR M eyer H. Ablon ATTORNEY M. H. ABLON 3,198,051

ADJUSTABLE THREE-KNIFE PAPER CUTTER AND TRIMMER Aug. 3, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28. 1961 5, Wa 9/ W a w w, a Q

wl w

INVENTOR Meyer H. Ablon ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1965 M. H. ABLON 3,198,051

ADJUSTABLE THREE-KNIFE PAPER CUTTER AND TRIMMER Filed Aug. 28. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 a 75 8/ 6/ W I 52 a; a

m /7 llllll: 20 Y Al!! 2/ inm- My INVENTOR y r H. Ablon ATTORNEY M. H. ABLON 3,198,051

ADJUSTABLE THREE-KNIFE PAPER CUTTER AND TRIMMER Aug. 3, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 3,198,051 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 3,18,051 ADEUSTABLE THREE-KNIFE PAPER EUTTER AND TRIMMER Meyer Ill. Albion, Dallas, Tex assignor of fifty percent to Roy E. Stein, Dallas, Tex. Fifed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,307 1 Claim. (Cl. 83-446) This invention relates to paper cutting and trimming apparatus, of the type general-1y employed in printing and bookbinding operations, and it has particular reference to machines especially adapted for trimming printed pamphlets, paper bound books, and the like, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a trimmer having at least one blade adjustable to different spacings with respect to an opposing blade whereby rectangular cuts of different dimensions can be accomplished.

An object of the invention is that of providing a cutter or trimmer which is semi-automatic and simple in structural design and operation whereby the trimming operations can be easily and uniformly performed by persons of ordinary skill, and embodying automatic features calculated to minimize or eliminate the hazard of injury to the operator.

The invention has special application in the printing and publishing industry Where it is essential that paper stock or printed material, such as books, magazines, pamphlets, and the like, must be produced in uniform dimension-s. Unlike conventional cutters and trimmers designed for such purposes, the present invention is provided with three knives arranged to cut or trim three sides of a stack of paper stock, such as a book or pamhlet, in a single operation, having two stationary knives arranged in right-angular association, and an adjustable knife adapted to be quickly and readily moved with respect to its parallel opposing knife to vary the spacings therebetween with a minimum of effort and at a substantial saving in time. The knives are adapted to move against the material in a straight downward motion without the usual slicing action attributable to the conventional type cutting and trimming machines.

Numerous printers and publishers are engaged in producing books, pamphlets and magazines, such as periodical publications, in a variety of sizes which entails the necessity for frequently readjusting the spacing and arrangement of the knives or providing several trimmers havingditferent knife settings to meet the dimensional requirements of different publications.

An important object of the invention, therefore, is

- that of providing a trimmer in which one of the three knives required to trim the top, front and foot of the publication is adjustable with respect to its opposing knife, and providing an adjustable stop or guide for the back of the stock whereby adjustments can be readily made to trim publications having different dimensions.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a paper cutter and trimmer which is compact and relatively inexpensive in structure, having substantial flexibility in its adjustability for dimensional cuts, and pos sessing features of construction by which extremely accurate adjustments can be easily and rapidly accomplished.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustration of the invention shown embodied in a movable cabinet, and illustrating the widely separated operating buttons on the front of the operating surface.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the invention,

the cabinet and work surface thereof being shown fragmentarily.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing the adjustable knife carriage plate, the front knife guard and the splines for guiding the adjustable knife.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the invention showing the knife supporting plate, the adjustable knife carriage plate and threaded crank rod, and the adjustable back guide.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view, on line 55 of FIGURE 2, showing one of the spring tensioned clamp shoes and the front knife guard.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, showing one of the clamp shoes and illustrating the adjustable knife in transverse section with its movable mounting plate and carriage plate.

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the invention showing both clamp shoes, the back and left end guide assemblies, and the hydraulic cylinders and limit switches beneath the cabinet top and work surface.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional illustration showing the adjustable and yieldable left end guide plate assembly.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view, on lines 99 of FIGURE 8, showing the integral horizontal leg of the left end guide plate, the tensioning springs being shown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 10 is a left end elevational view of the invention showing the adjustable back and left end guide members, the tensioned front knife guard, and showing the cabinet cut away to illustrate the hydraulic cylinders and limit switches.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary left end elevational view of the knife carriage plate in down position, and illus trating the tensioned cam actuated front knife guard, and

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic system and electrical circuit.

The invention, although designed primarily for the purpose of cutting and trimming paper in laminated stacks, may advantageously be used in cutting or trimming other materials, such as sheet plastic, leather, fabrics, and similar materials.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the invention, and referring to the drawings, the device is supported on a work surface 10, preferably the top of a cabinet 11 which may be provided with casters 12 by which the assembly can be conveniently moved about. The cabinet 11 houses the hydraulic system and electrical circuit, valves, and the like, by which the invention is operated, and which will be presently described in detail.

The machine is pnovided with two stationary knives 13 and 1 5, and an adjustable knife 15, all supported in operative position by a rectangular horizontal plate 16 attached adjacent its four corners to the upper ends of vertical guide rods 17, each of which extends downwardly through the cabinet top or work surface It) and concentrically through a sleeve 18, a illustrated particularly in FIG- URES 7 and 10. The lowermost ends of the guide rods 17 are arranged through the corners of a rectangular thrust plate 19 by nuts 28 and 21 beneath the cabinet top or work surface it The sleeves 18 have flanges 22 at their upper and lower ends by which they are attached by studs 23 to the underside of the cabinet top it) and to the upper surface of a plate 24 spaced below the cabinet top ltl, respectively, as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 10, and through which the guide rods 17 operate. Bushings 25 are arranged about the rods 17 within the sleeves 13 and are shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 7. The upper ends of the guiderods 17 are under-cut and threaded, defining shoulders 326 to engage the underside of the plate 16, and nuts 27 are threaded on the uppermost ends of the rods 17 to secure the plate 16 thereto. Caps 28 are arranged over the endsof the rods 17 and nuts 27 to enclose the same. 7 The stationary knives 13 and 14 are rigidly secured to the undersurface of the plate 16 through the medium of bars 29 and 30 which are attached to the underside of the plate 16, as shown in FIGURES 1,2,3, 6 and 7.

The bar 29 is welded, or'othe'r'wise secured, alongthe fnont edge of the plate 16' and the knife 13 is attached thereto by studs 31, as indicated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The bar 30 is welded, or otherwise secured to the undersurface of the plate 16 transversely thereofnnd spaced from the left'end of the plate 16, at an angled 90 degrees to the bar 29,. in the arrangements shown-in FIGURES 2 and 10. The knife 14 is attached to the bar 3% by studs 32. Thus both'knives 13 and 14 are rigidly fixed at rightangles and are contiguous with respect to each other; 7

Theadjustable knife is attached by studs 33 to a bar 34 which is slidably supported beneath the plate 16 by a pairof elongated set-screws 35 arranged through slot 36 and 37 formed longitudinally and spaced from each side thereof, 'as shown in FIGURES, 1, 3, 4 and 6, and is adapted to be moved with respect, to the transverse stationary knife 14 on the left sideof the machine. The setscrews are also arranged through a traveling bar 38 slidably supported on the upper. surface of the plate 16, as illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4,5 and 7, and is -thereof, as shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, whereby predetermined spacings between the-knives 14and 15 can be accomplished, and the, set screws 35 threaded down to rigidly secure the knife 15 in its'adjusted position.

Adjacent to the blades 14 and 15 areclamp shoes 43 and 44 whichare operated downwardly against the mate rial 45, shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 2, 3,4, 5, 7,

and 10, to'firmly secure thesame during the trimming operation. The shoes 43 and 44 are arranged transverse 1y of the plate 16, as shownuindotted lines in FIGURE 4, and in longitudinal section in FIGURE 5. The shoe 43 is attached at each end to a pair of rods 46 which extend through the plate 16 and have flanged heads 47. which function as pistons within a pair of vertically arranged cylinders 48, each having a compression spring49 therein biasing the rods 46 downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 7. The lower ends of the cylinders 48 are threaded into the plate 16 and plugs 50 are threaded in the upper ends thereof to restrain the springs 49.

The opposite shoe 44, adjacent to the adjustable knife 15 and cooperating therewith, isv attached to the lower ends of a pair of rods51' which areidentical with the rods;

.46, having flanged heads 52 formed on their upper ends .operativcly arranged in a pair of cylinders 53 whose lower ends are threaded in the traveling bar 38 and arethus movable therewith, as shown in FIGURESI, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each of the cylinders 53 has compressionsprings 54 therein for biasing the rods 51 downwardly, and each has a plug 55 for restraining the springs 54 therein. Itis apparent, therefore, that when the crank 42 is operated to rotate the threaded rod39 the entire unit,

comprising the. traveling bar38, the bar 34 with the knife 15 and the shoe 44, is moved along the slots 36 and 37 so lthatdifierent'spacings between the knife 15 and the stationary knife 14 can be readily accomplished. Both clamp shoes 43 and 44 are arrangedadjacent to the inner planar,

surfaces of the, respectiveknives 14 and 15, which have their outer surfaces bevelled adjacent their cutting edges 56, and the engaging surfaces of the shoes 43'and44 are adapted to be moved along the plate 16 by a threaded slightly below the edges 56 in their inoperative positions, shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, and thus serves to protect the operator from possible injury by contact with the sharp edges 56 of the knives 14 and 15.

The cutting edge 56 of the knife 13 along the frontof the plate 16 is protected, while in its inoperative position, by a guard bar 57 adapted to lie along the bevelled outer surface of the knife 13, as shown particularly in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 11, and. has an arm 58'attached to each end.

The upper ends of the arms-58 have offset pivots 59 by which .theyare connected to'cach end of the bar 29 to which theknife 13 is secured; One end of the guard bar 57 has a pin 60 extending therefrom which engages the 'arcuate periphery ofta cam element 61 which is secured at its flanged base by studs 62 to the surface .10 of the cabinet 11, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 7, 10'and 11. A pullspring 63 is attached'at one endtothe outer end of the pin 60 and has its oppositeend attached by a screw 64 to the underside of the plate 16. The spring 63 biases the guard bar 57 against the cam element 61 so that when the knife 13. is moved downwardly the guard bar 57 is urged away from the knife 13, in the manner shown in FIGURE 11, and is returned'by the spring 63 to its protective position, as shown inFIGURES 2, 3, and 10.

It is important that the adjustable knife 15 is always in exactparallel and at 90 degrees right-angular to the knives 14 and 13,'respectively, in order to insure accu racyiin trimming operations; There being no necessity for setting'the knives 13 and 14, since these elements a are rigidly fixed contiguous toeach other, it is essential 7 of the bar 69 and is longitudinally adjustable with reto provide means for maintaining proper alignment of the adjustable knife 15. This is accomplishedby the provision "of a pair of spaced grooves 65 formed longitudinally of the plate 16 on-the underside thereof and parallel to the slots 36 and 37, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE '4, and in transverse section in FIGURES 3 and 5, in which are slidably received a pair of splines 66 securedby screws 67 f in, grooves 68 formed transversely of the-upper surface of the bar 34. V

A back stop or guide for the material 45 is arranged -rearwardly of the working surface 10, and comprises an arrangement of bars 69,70 and 71 which are preferably rectangular in transverse section, as shown in FIGURES 2,3, 4, 7 and 10. FIGURES 4 and 10 best illustrate the assembly in whichthebar 69 is arranged at each end through brackets 72 and 73 secured by studs 74 'throughtheir flanged bases to the'surface 10 of the cabinet 11. Thebar .70,v which may be calibrated,'is arranged through the bracket 72 above and transversely spect thereto. A thumb-screw 75 is threaded into the top of the bracket 72 by which the'bar is fixed therein when adjusted to its desired position. V

The bar 71 has a right-angular portion 76, which is parallel to the bar 69,v and is slidablyarranged through a fitting 77 formed on the outer end of the bar 70. A

' thumb-screw 78 is threaded into the .fitting 77' by which its adjusted positions.

the right-angular portion of the bar 71can be fixed in It is contemplated that each of the bars76, 70 and .71 bear spaced markings or calibrations for ready settings. Thebar 71 is slidablyarranged through a block 79 which, in turn, is slidably attached to the bar 69, and thumb-screws 80 and 81 are threaded into the block 79, in. right-angular arrangement, by which the bars69 and 71 can be secured .in adjusted relationship to each other, as shown particularly in FIG- .-URES 4, 7.and 10. I

Formedvwith the inner ends of the bars 70 and 71 are transverse elements 82 which are positioned vertically and provide stopsjagainst'which the material 45 can be abuttedand aligned for a trimming operation. The

lowermostjends of the elements "82slidably engage the tympan 83 against which the knives 13,14 'and15 are pan 83 may be composed of any suitable material, such as plastic, fiber, and the like.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 4 the bars 70 and 71 can be adjusted longitudinally, or inwardly and outwardly, to fix the stop members 82- at any desired spacing from the front knife 13, and since the knife can be adjusted to different spacings from the opposite knife 14, stock of different dimensions can be trimmed with a minimum of effort in varying the adjustments.

On some occasions it becomes necessary to perform a relatively close trimming operation on one end of the stock, such as in a pamphlet or periodical publication, and such operation can be performed more readily and accurately by providing an adjustable but yieldable guide plate 84 arranged parallel to the knife 14 at the left-hand end of the assembly against which the stock 45 can be abutted and held in position so that a relatively narrow trim can be accomplished, as in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8.

The plate 34, shown also in FIGURES 1, 7, l0 and 11, is vertical and has an integral portion 85 near its base and extending rearwardly therefrom, as shown in FIG URES 8 and 9. The member 85 is slidably arranged in a channel 86 formed longitudinally of a block 87 which is secured by screws 81'; to the work surface 19 in a plane transverse to the planar surface of the guide plate 84.

The member 35 has a lug 39 formed therewith intermediate its ends and projecting upwardly, having a threaded bore 90 therethrough, as indicated in FIGURE 8, to receive the threaded end of an elongated screw 91 on whose opposite end is formed a winged lmob 92 by which the screw 91 is rotated.

The screw 91 extends through an aperture 93 in a lug 94- formed on the outer end of the block 87 whereby, when the screw 91 is rotated the plate $4 is moved toward or away from the knife 14 and can be tensioned by a pair of compression springs 95 reposing in a chamber 96 formed by opposing recesses formed in the lower and upper surfaces, respectively, of the member 85 and the block 87, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. The member 85 is retained in the channel 86 by a plate 97 secured by the screws 88 to the block 87, a slot 98 being provided in the plate 97 through which the lug S9 is projected.

As apparent in FIGURES 7 and S the upper inner edge of the plate 84 is rounded and its normal position is partially beneath the bevelled outer surface of the knife 14, as shown in FIGURE 7, so that as the knife 14 is moved downwardly it engages the plate 55 and moves it outwardly against the tension of the springs 9:5, as in the position shown in FIGURE 8. As the knife 14 is raised to its inoperative position, shown in FIGURE 7, the plate 84 assumes its normal position partially under the knife 14.

The invention is operated by hydraulic pressure, and is capable of semi-automatic operation through an electrical circuit. The hydraulic system and electrical circuit are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 12. The cutting head assembly, which consists of the top plate 16, the rods 17, the knives 13, 14 and 15, and the shoes 43 and 4-4 is actuated downwardly by hydraulic pressure inducted into the hydraulic system by a pump 99 operated by a motor 190 connected in the electrical circuit.

As previously stated, the rods 17 which motivate the cutting head assembly are connected, at their lowermost ends, to a thrust plate 19 after passing through the plate 24 which is attached to the under side of the cabinet top 10 through the sleeves 18, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 10.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 191 and 102 are supported on the plate 24, having their flanged bases 103 and 194 secured thereto by studs 105. Each of the cylinders 101 and 102 have pistons (not shown) therein whose plungers 196 and 107 extend downwardly through the plate 24 and have their lowermost ends secured to the thrust plate 19 by nuts 108. This arrangement is best illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 10 Thus, when hydraulic fluid is inducted by the pump 99 from the fluid reservoir 109 into the upper ends of the cylinders 101 and 102 the pistons therein are forced downwardly, moving the thrust plate 19 to actuate the cutting head assembly.

The hydraulic fluid is conducted from the reservoir 109 through a conduit 110 to the pump 99 and thence through a solenoid actuated valve 111 of the selector type, having two solenoids 112 and 113 for operating the valve 111 to direct the fluid first into the top of the cylinders 191 and 102 through a conduit 114 to force the pistons downwardly, and then through a conduit 115 to raise the pistons and the cutting head assembly. The fluid is returned to the reservoir 109 through conduits 116 or 117 and a relief valve 117' is provided in the conduit 117. A pressure gauge is connected between the pump 99 and the valve 111.

The hydraulic pump motor 100 is connected into an electrical circuit having connection with a service outlet 118 and having a switch 119 therein, preferably of the toggle type, and if desired, a service outlet 120 may be connected into the circuit between the outlet 118 and the switch 119 for convenient use independently of the actuating circuit which is energized through the switch 119. A pair of conductors 121 connects the switch 119 with the service outlet 118, and conductors 122 connect the motor 101 through the switch 119.

One of the prime objects of the invention is that of providing a mechanism in which is embodied as many safeguards as possible for the operator. In addition to the several elements afforded for protection against the sharp edges of the knives heretofore described, it will become apparent that the machine is incapable of operation until the operator has removed his hands from the area in which the knives or the clamp shoes function. This is accomplished through the provision of a dual switch arrangement for starting the mechanism.

After the toggle switch 119 is actuated the circuit to the pump motor 1110 cannot be closed until both of the manual starting switches 123 and 124 are closed by depressing their buttons 125 and 126. These switches are positioned on the front of the cabinet 11 and are spaced apart so that it is necessary that the operator use both hands to close the circuit. The switches 123 and 124 are shown in FIGURES 1, 10 and 12, and are normally open, as shown in FIGURE 12.

When the switches 123 and 124 are closed the circuit is energized to cause the pump 99 to circulate the hydraulic fluid to the upper ends of the cylinders 101 and 162 through the valve 111 which is then operated by the solenoid 112 through a micro-switch 127 and one side 128 of a relay 129. The micro-switch 127 is normally closed when the machine is at rest, as shown in FIGURE 12, while another micro-switch 131) is open. The microswitches 127 and 130 function as limit switches to cause the cutting head assembly to descend to perform a cutting operation and to retract to inoperative position respectively.

In FIGURE 12 the electrical circuit is illustrated as being open, that is, the manual switches 125 and 126 are shown in normally open position. When these switches are closed current will flow through a conductor 131 connected through the micro-switch 127, which is now closed, and through a conductor 132 from the micro-switch 127 to the side 128 of the relay 129 which automatically actuates the solenoid 112 to admit the hydraulic fluid to the upper ends of the cylinders 101 and 102 to drive the thrust plate 19 down.

When the thrust plate 19 reaches its limit of travel the micro-switch 130 is closed to cause the current to flow through a conductor 133 connected to one side of the switch 130, and a conductor 134 connected to its opposi te pole and the opposite side 135 of the relay 129 to actuate the solenoid 113 to release thevhydraulic fluid in the cylinders 101 and 102 above thepistons therein and transfer the same to the lower ends ofthe cylinders'101 and 102 and to the reservoir 109'. r

The micro-switches 127 and 130 are attached to the rear edge of the plate 24 on which the cylinders 101 and 102 are supported, and each has a button which is engaged by an actuating arm'136 or 137, both of which areattached to the rear edge of thethrust plate 19, as shown in FIGURE 12. The arm 136 has a right-angular element 138 formed on its upper end and adapted to engage the button of the switch 127 when the thrust plate .19 is in .its uppermost position, as shown in'FIGURE 12. The

arm 137 is also formed with a right-angular element 139 which engages the button of the switch 130 when the thrust plate 19 is at'its lowermost' position to reverse the action thereof; Both arms 136and137 are adjustable with respect to the thrust plate 19 to vary the distance of its travel. The cutting head assembly will continue to 8 trimming head assembly on said base and adapted to operate vertically against said work surface, the said head assembly comprising, in combination, a carrierplate spaced above said work surface havinga pair of stationary cutting knives rigidly attached thereto and arranged in contiguous right-angular association, a third knife ad- .justably supported on saidplate opposite and parallel to one of said stationary knives and at right-angles and operate in its upward and downward movement as long as the rnanual switches 125 and 7126 are closed. 7

Although the invention has been described ith; great particularity, it is obvious that certain changes and modifications in structure and design'may be'resorted to from time to time, by persons skilled in the art, that such changes and modifications as may be considered as falling within the spirit and intent thereofv may also be con- What is claimed is: In a paper cutting and 'sidered as falling within the scope of the appended claim.

ltrimming machine having a ,base, a work surface on said base, and a cutting and adjacent to the other ofsaid knives, means carried by said plate for adjusting said third knife to difierent spacings from and parallel to its said opposing knife, an adjustable stock guide opposing one of said stationary knives and .operative at right angles. to said adjustable knife,,and a yieldable stock guide adjacent to said, stationary knife opposing said adjustable knife, paper. clamping elements cooperatively arranged 'adjacentto said adjustable knife and its opposing parallel knife, and means for operating said headassembly.

Reterences Citedby the Examiner ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD ALLEN, WILLLAM W. DYER, 111.,

' Examiners. 

